Steamboat Police: Body found near Soda Creek thought to be Matthew Shelters

Steamboat Springs resident Cari Hermacinski, who is a Routt County Commissioner, looks at the area where she discovered the body of a man who is believed to be missing Steamboat resident Matthew Shelters.Matt Stensland

On Wednesday, Hermacinski was enjoying the Fourth of July with friends at her house on the north side of Old Town Steamboat. Hermacinski and friends decided to explore nearby Soda Creek, and she discovered the body.

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The body was found along the creek bank at the bottom of a cliff on a parcel of land know as the Atwood Ranch, and it was badly decomposed.

“I was finally aware this was a human because he was still wearing his clothes,” Hermacinski said.

Routt County Sheriff Garrett Wiggins said the body likely got caught on a snag or obstruction in the creek.

“It is highly likely and thought to be believed the body is of the missing man Matthew Shelters,” Wiggins said. “The body was decayed to the point to where you could not identify who the individual is.”

Deputies found Shelters’ wallet with identification.

Hermacinski said they also found his cellphone, which was a critical part of the investigation.

When Steamboat police officers were investigating the Shelters disappearance, they were able to get access to his cellphone data and determine a 120-degree arc where his cellphone last communicated with a cell tower.

The arc went over the 13th Street Bridge, which led people to believe Shelters might have gone into the Yampa River. Christensen said the arc also went over the area within one-tenth of a mile of where the body was discovered on private land.

“We wouldn’t have had the opportunity to climb back in there,” Christensen said.

An autopsy is expected to take place Thursday. Wiggins said they will try to determine a cause of death and look for any signs of trauma.

“We’re going to do the best we can with what we have,” Wiggins said.

Police, family and community members want some answers.

“We would like to know the final piece of the mystery,” Christensen said.

Shelters won over a lot of hearts in Steamboat during his 14 years here. Most recently, he was working as a bartender at E3 Chophouse, and he lived at The Flour Mill on Lincoln Avenue along the Yampa River.

“I didn’t know Matthew Shelters until this happened, and I wish I had,” Christensen said. “So it’s a loss to our community, as well. It was tough on the entire community.”

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